Collecting points on ChoiceAir flights

I think the problem with ChoiceAir is that you are buying something that is completely unknown as has been discussed in other threads ad naseum. Yes some fares may be endorsed over to other carriers but do you know that? Experts have the devil's own time trying to figure out the fare rules for these products.

 

It's makes me feel better knowing that, yes schedule changes can happen and ChoiceAir will be there to let me know. It also makes me wonder why United's email was 45 minutes later.

 

You can get apps for $2 that do the same thing (Shout out for MyFlights!), that's really not a selling point for ChoiceAir.

So In all this discussion of what ChoiceAir will do and not do and dealing with the airline directly, I received two emails this morning. The first one was from ChoiceAir telling me that my itinerary had been changed.

 

I now go from SEA-IAH-SJU instead of SEA-IAD-SJU.

 

The second email came from United 45 minutes later informing me of my schedule change.

 

It's makes me feel better knowing that, yes schedule changes can happen and ChoiceAir will be there to let me know. It also makes me wonder why United's email was 45 minutes later.

 

 

My bank, just today, sent me my electric bill (via email) about five minutes before the electric company did. Doesn't mean my bank is anything special by any means, their systems are just timed differently.

It's makes me feel better knowing that, yes schedule changes can happen and ChoiceAir will be there to let me know. It also makes me wonder why United's email was 45 minutes later.

 

Do you have tickets? Not a reservation in the airline's system, a PNR (record locator number), an itinerary, etc....but actual e-tickets carrying the ticket number and fare code? If not, here's a possible explanation using your situation to help explain....

 

Choice Air made SEA-IAD-SJU reservations on specific flights as a "placeholder". Actual tickets aren't pulled from their inventory until 2-6 weeks prior to travel. When it's time to ticket, CA will grab SEA-IAD and IAD-SJU tickets they negotiated and bulk-purchased from the airline months before. Until then, you have a reservation but no ticket, and CA's inventory on either leg could be depleted for a variety of reasons. CA would look at their "salad bar" and assemble a different itinerary...in this case SEA-IAH and IAH-SJU . CA changed the reservation, notified you and UA, and after that UA notified you as well.

 

I'm not saying this *is* what happened in your situation, but the most likely explanation if you aren't ticketed yet.

 

An aside- very rarely, a CA customer will luck out and receive a regular, non-negotiated ticket. If CA has *no* way to get you from SEA-SJU, they will wait as long as possible for inventory to free up due to cancellations or other changes. If they run out of time and options ( and options include 2 connections/3 flights, long layovers, 4am departures and crazy routings ) CA will have to bite the bullet and purchase a standard ticket to complete an itinerary. It could even be a nonstop! Rare, but not unheard-of.

Edited August 28, 2014 by kenish

So In all this discussion of what ChoiceAir will do and not do and dealing with the airline directly, I received two emails this morning. The first one was from ChoiceAir...

 

It's makes me feel better knowing that, yes schedule changes can happen and ChoiceAir will be there to let me know.

 

Yes, THIS TIME they contacted you. It doesn't mean it WILL happen again. It might, or it might not, which has been my point all along. We have heard stories from people who did not get contacted as you did so I wouldn't certainly not assume that it will always happen, just because it happened this time.

 

And you did say that the airline also contacted you directly, right? So you would have found out either way. ;)

Edited August 28, 2014 by waterbug123

It's makes me feel better knowing that, yes schedule changes can happen and ChoiceAir will be there to let me know. It also makes me wonder why United's email was 45 minutes later.

Let me let you into a secret: Choice Air's email didn't come the instant the schedule change was made. Nor did United's. Your flight isn't until January, and notifying schedule changes for flights so far away isn't a high priority task. This is the sort of thing which is probably done once a day, whether by travel agents (like Choice Air) or airlines. The fact that one was 45 minutes later than the other one wouldn't have been anything other than random chance.

 

There are arguments for using Choice Air, and there are arguments against. But seizing on something like this would seem to be ex post facto rationalisation of an extraordinary order.

I'll give you the quick recap. While waiting in line during the storms at the beginning of last January, I was also on the phone(on hold) with United. Unfortunately I got to the lady at the front of the ticket counter before I got to someone at United directly.

 

We were flying out of Seattle that day and we we're one of two flights affected that morning at that time. We only waited in line for 15 minutes. Just wasn't my day that day.

 

With so many cancellations that day who knows how long I would have waited on the phone. We eventually got to Puerto Rico(before the ship left), so it was all good.

 

The main thing that i'll reiterate is sometime between checking in and going through security, my flight was cancelled and I didn't receive a notification from United. Maybe I would have had I booked through ChoiceAir and saved myself a few minutes and gotten on that earlier flight.

 

Never hurts to have a possible back up plan.

 

Don't let the naysayers deter you. Have you ever called an airline and received a recording that they are too busy to take your call and to call back later, then they hang up? I have on multiple occasions. Have you ever been on hold for an airline for over an hour? I have. Most regular posters on the Cruise Air forum are "elites" with the airlines so they receive special treatment (special phone numbers, special exceptions, etc) that "normal" and "infrequent" travelers don't get. I have been on both sides of the fence (elite with some airlines and no status with others) and I have sympathy for infrequent travelers with no status when airline schedules go belly up.

 

At least my travel agent does monitor flights when schedules get disrupted. Airlines communicate to travel agents through their GDS (reservation system) and "queues." Travel agents can do a search to see if they have anyone booked on flights to/from certain areas or on certain flight numbers then act on that. I know that my travel agent has come through for me on multiple occasions when the airline was impossible to contact, either by phone or at the airport (super long lines).

 

Having said that, would I use Cruise/Choice Air as my travel agent? Probably not. But most people here haven't had a good travel agent so they bash all travel agents. Just like doctors and nurses and electricians - there are some good ones and some not-so-good ones. You need to do your homework to find the good ones. In this day and age, you don't even need a travel agent that is located near you, which makes it even easier to find a good one with a small amount of research.

Edited August 28, 2014 by frugaltravel

But most people here haven't had a good travel agent so they bash all travel agents.

 

I'd say that's not true, most of the frequent flyers I know have access to good travel agents but just prefer to book things themselves unless they need that TA to access special inventory/deals.

 

The margins in the travel agency business have become so razor thin in many sectors it's not a career anymore but a minimum wage filler position for many with no real world experience, which to me isn't particularly helpful. You just need to see on here and other fora where TAs have fed completely bogus information to their clients.

But most people here haven't had a good travel agent so they bash all travel agents. Just like doctors and nurses and electricians - there are some good ones and some not-so-good ones.

Have an excellent cruise agent who knows bupkis about airlines. But knows it, admits it, and doesn't try to pass herself off as someone who does. I have a different agent who is a whiz at hotels and land tours. Wouldn't know a Lido Deck from a Poop Deck. But both are specialists who admit, and promote, their specialty -- and who know their weaknesses.

 

And then I've come across the order takers. Which, like cruiseline air, is fine if everything goes well and there are no hitches and you just need someone to buy it for you.

 

You get what you pay for. Rarely have truer words been spoken.

I'd say that's not true, most of the frequent flyers I know have access to good travel agents but just prefer to book things themselves unless they need that TA to access special inventory/deals.

 

The margins in the travel agency business have become so razor thin in many sectors it's not a career anymore but a minimum wage filler position for many with no real world experience, which to me isn't particularly helpful. You just need to see on here and other fora where TAs have fed completely bogus information to their clients.

 

As FlyerTalker said above (quoted below), this is not always the case. As I said, it is all about a good travel agent. Your example is not a good example of a good travel agent :)

 

Have an excellent cruise agent who knows bupkis about airlines. But knows it, admits it, and doesn't try to pass herself off as someone who does. I have a different agent who is a whiz at hotels and land tours. Wouldn't know a Lido Deck from a Poop Deck. But both are specialists who admit, and promote, their specialty -- and who know their weaknesses.

 

And then I've come across the order takers. Which, like cruiseline air, is fine if everything goes well and there are no hitches and you just need someone to buy it for you.

 

You get what you pay for. Rarely have truer words been spoken.

 

Finding the people with the right specialty niche is the key. Fortunately I have a good agent specializing in air, hotels and car rentals (and does all three well). Doesn't work with cruises, land tours, vacation packages, etc.

Edited August 28, 2014 by frugaltravel

As FlyerTalker said above (quoted below), this is not always the case. As I said, it is all about a good travel agent. Your example is not a good example of a good travel agent :)

 

I'm aware of what a good travel agent can do, I've got a Virtuoso agent I use and Amex PTS too. They've been very helpful but I'm independent enough to handle most things myself.

 

The majority of TAs now aren't of the quality that inexperienced travelers hope for.

 

At least my travel agent does monitor flights when schedules get disrupted. Airlines communicate to travel agents through their GDS (reservation system) and "queues." Travel agents can do a search to see if they have anyone booked on flights to/from certain areas or on certain flight numbers then act on that. .

 

I've never understood why people think they need a TA to tell them their flight has been disrupted. Airlines have apps, websites and 800 numbers you can use to check your own flights. And YOU only have to check ONE flight, whereas theoretically your TA has to check a bunch of flights on a constant basis (assuming you are not their only client!)

I've never understood why people think they need a TA to tell them their flight has been disrupted. Airlines have apps, websites and 800 numbers you can use to check your own flights. And YOU only have to check ONE flight, whereas theoretically your TA has to check a bunch of flights on a constant basis (assuming you are not their only client!)

 

As I said earlier, have you ever tried calling an airline during a disruption like major weather issues or the volcano in Iceland and had no status? Good luck most of the time. Also as I said earlier, a good travel agent is worth their cost. As FlyerTalker said, you get what you pay for.

As I said earlier, have you ever tried calling an airline during a disruption like major weather issues or the volcano in Iceland and had no status? Good luck most of the time. Also as I said earlier, a good travel agent is worth their cost. As FlyerTalker said, you get what you pay for.

 

My point was that to use a phone app, status generally doesn't matter. The minute I touch down on a flight I can use an app to immediately find out the status of my connecting flight.